Key controlled, combination changing, permutation locks



May 1, 1962 D. J. FOOTE ET AL 3,031,877

COMBINATION CHANGING, PERMUTATION LOCKS KEY CONTROLLED,

Filed March 15, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 ENTORJ a $25,

BY Wendi *MM Flay/I69!! May 1, 1962 D. J. FoTE ET AL 3,031,877

KEY CONTROLLED, COMBINATION CHANGING, PERMUTATION LOCKS Filed March 15, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 35 llll I I! 5 Ff T ||1|||| IfIl-I-II-IIIIIMI 22 .16. Zz I 73 May 1, 1962 D. J. FOOTE ETAL KEY CONTROLLED, COMBINATION CHANGING, PERMUTATION LOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 5, 1960 D. J. FOOTE ET AL COMBINATION CHANGING, PERMUTATION LOCKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEVS.

May 1, 1962 KEY CONTROLLED,

Filed March 15, 1960 United States Patent Ofiice 3,031,877 Patented May 1, 1962 3,031,877 KEY CONTROLLED, COMBINATIGN CHANGING,

PERMUTATION LQCKS Daniel J. Foote, Wauwatosa, and Nick Arnold, Brookfield, Wis., assignors to Master Lock Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Mar. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 15,196 15 Claims. (Cl. 70-315) This invention relates to improvements in key controlled, combination changing, permutation locks.

Wherever key controlled permutation locks are used for lockers and the like, it is possible to open one or all of the locks in a series of lockers by the user dialing the pre-assigned combination for his individual locker, or one or all of the locks may be opened by the school principal, factory foreman, or other custodian using a master or control key that will fit the particular lock, and all of the other locks in the group or installation, without the necessity of dialing each lock. However, as school terms or semesters end and students graduate, or employees leave a factory or plant, and as other users shift or change, then periodically the lockers may be reassigned to other users. In practice, it has been found very desirable from a protection viewpoint at the time of such new term, shift, period orsemester to be able to change the combination of each locker lock whereby the prior user, no longer using the particular locker on which the lock is installed, cannot later have access thereto through knowledge of the combination formerly used on the locker lock. It has been possible, with conventional permutation locks, to change the combinations by altering the positions or relationship of the dials to the tumbler discs by either releasing the dials or by moving the same a uniform multiple of numbers away to start a new combination series. These prior arrangements, however, involved either removing the locker lock entirely, or the use of special tools, keys or instruments to disengage the dials and reset the new combinations, such procedures being very complicated and time consuming, and requiring that an experienced person follow detailed instructions in effecting the combination changes.

With the foregoing in mind it is, therefore a general object of the invention to provide an improved key controlled permutation locker lock having a novel combination changer that is of simplified and sturdy construction and which can be quickly manipulated by an unskilled person.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved key controlled permutation lock having a novel combination changer equipped with a push button mechanism in the rear of the lock, so that when the locker door is opened, by use of the control key, the combination can be changed without the necessity of removing the lock and dial assembly to reset the dial and discs.

A further object of thi invention is to provide a lock of the class described equipped with a rotatable combination dial, a one piece lock casing housing lock mechanism including a series of notched tumbler discs and a cam with a push button device in the back of the lock case whereby a locker custodian, or other person having the proper control key can, at certain fixed times, quickly and easily change the assigned combination of a given permutation lock to one of many other combinations, without removing or disassembling the lock or using special tools to release or reset the dail and tumbler discs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key controlled permutation locker lock with a push button combination changer mechanism which lock can be opened by the individual user dialing the assigned combination, or by an authorized official or custodian using the proper control key without dialing, the arrangement furthermore permitting an authorized person to subse quently easily change the combination to any of a plurality of pre-assigned different combinations, so that a prior user no longer using the particular locker on which this lock is installed, cannot thereafter have access thereto by dialing the combination formerly assigned or used on the particular locker lock.

A still further object of the invention is to provide, in a key controlled permutation lock, a novel push button operated mechanism for changing the combination, which combination changing mechanism eliminates the possibility of making any errors, since the mechanism permits a return to the starting point or the original assigned combination.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an improved key controlled permutation locker lock, a pushbutton operated combination changing mechanism which permits an authorized person to use a control key to open the door on which the lock is installed and to then press the lock push button mechanism which will cause the disengagement of a circular disc plate to thereby easily change the combinations numbers to newly assigned numbers for dialing, the relationship between the dial and tumbler discs being changed by said movements or actions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a push button operated combination changer for a controlled permutation locker lock permitting the combination of lock to be changed, without disassembling the lock, but only after the locker door bearing the lock has been opened and the control locking cylinder of the lock has been operated while pressure is exerted on the push button.

Another object of the invention is to provide a permutation lock combination changer permitting the change to newly assigned combinations that may be staggered, scrambled, and not related to a uniform multiple of numbers away from the original combination of the locker lock.

A further object of the invention is to provide a key controlled, combination changing permutation lock especially adapted for lockers and which is of simple and rugged construction, is easy to assemble and operate, is neat and attractive in appearance, and is well adapted for the purposes described. a

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved key controlled, combination changing permutation lock, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front view of a locker door equipped with the improved key controlled, combination changing permutation lock;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through a portion of a locker door and the improved lock as installed therein, the section through the lock casing being approximately along the line 33 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a rear View of the lock casing showing the combination changing push button protrusion and the relationship of the dual cam and push button in its locked position, there being a broken line showing of said parts in the unlocked position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 3 only showing the internal lock mechanism when the push button is pressed to effect a combination change with the cam turned by a master key to clear certain projections whereby the tumbler disc pins are pushed to a position to remove the circular disc plate from the tumbler discs;

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a view taken approximately along the line 77 of FIG. 3 showing the internal lock mechanism in its normally locked condition;

FIG. 8 is a similar sectional View only showing the internal lock parts engaged after the permutation mechanism has been dialed and the lock bolt and locker latching bar have been partially raised;

FIG. 9 is a similar view only showing the position of the internal lock mechanism after the lock and control mechanism has been released through the use of a master key, without operation of the dial mechanism;

FIG. 10 is a face view of a circular disc or clutch plate used in the lock and having therein a plurality of staggered apertures effective in the changing of combinations;

FIG. 11 is a side view of said disc plate;

FIG. 12 is an end view of the tumbler disc shaft or post showing a pair of diametrically opposed recesses therein for receiving the tumbler disc pins;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the tumbler disc shaft;

FIG. 14 is a face view of the dual cam and push button;

FIG. 15 is a side view thereof;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a tumbler disc pin as used between the push button and the circular disc plate;

FIG. 17 is a face view of a disc washer or spacer formed with internal teeth to engage, support and guide the push button disc pins in their movements following operation of the push button;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary front view of a locker door equipped with the improved lock similar to FIG. 1 only showing the locker door opening in a reverse direction; and

FIG. 19 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 7 only showing the lock reversed for mounting on a door arranged as in FIG. 18.

While the improved key controlled, combination changing permutation lock is susceptible of broader application, in its preferred environment the locks may be incorporated in the hinged doors of a series of identical lockers such as, are used in schools, factories and public buildings where some ofiicial or custodian may have possession of a master key which controls the opening of one or all of the locks in said group of lockers, should it be expedient or necessary for the official to open one or more of the locks withoutthe necessity of dialing the different combinations of the individual lockers. Furthermore, at any given period, after the custodian has opened the lock of one or more of the lockers in the series he may, through a simple operation, cause the combinations of any selected locks to be changed.

By way of illustration, and with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will appear that the numeral 20 indicates the hinged door of a standard locker 21 of the type mentioned. The locker 21 and the latch mechanism for the door are of standard construction so only certain features thereof will be briefly described.

Within the verticalmargin of the free edge of the locker door 20 there is mounted a vertically reciprocating latching bar 22 which is adapted to be raised and lowered to bring the upper shoulder of a slot 23 into and out of latching engagementwith a latch. dog 24 fixedly mounted on a frame portion of the locker adjacent the vertical margin of the door opening. Said latch dog carries resilient door stop bumpers 25. On the exterior of the locker door 20 adjacent the free vertical margin thereof is mounted an operating handle 26 having tongue portions 27 integral therewith which extends through slots 28 in the face of the door 20 and are secured to the latching bar 22. Con sequently, when the permutation lock installed in the locker door, and which will be described in detail hereinafter, is unlocked, the handle 26 may be lifted vertically to raise the latching bar22 and disengage the top shoulder 4 of the slot 23 from the latching dog 24, whereby the locker door is free to swung to open position,

The improved key controlled, combination changing permutation lock is indicated generally by the numeral 29 and it is mounted on a face of the locker door 20 adjacent the free vertical margin thereof and above the latch operating handle 26, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Portions of the lock extend through an opening therefor in the locker door 29. The lock casing 30 is in practice secured adjacent the inner face of the door 20 and carries certain internal mechanism which controls a lock-bolt 31 which projects through a vertical slot 32 in the locker door latching bar 22 and, depending upon the position of the lock bolt 31 relative to the ends of the slot 32, said lock bolt will block or permit vertical reciprocation of the locker door latching bar 22, the lock bolt 31 being reciprocatable vertically within said slot 32 when certain of the internal mechanism of the lock is operated. The permutation lock 29 includes a knurled knob 33 which projects outwardly from the outer face of the locker door 20 and which has formed integral therewith a larger graduated dial 34 operatively overlying an outer face portion of the door 2%. The combined knob and dial 33434 is mounted in the manner shown and described in the Stahl et al. co-pending application, Serial No. 10,760, filed February 124, 1960.

The dial mounting assembly includes an escutcheon plate 37 which carries a decorative overlay and which covers and renders inaccessible the heads of certain securing bolts 39.

The numeral 42 (see FIGS. 3 and S) designates a notched combination setting plate of a novel and distinctive type and which can be prearranged in a variety of circularly advanced positions so that a selected pair of diametrically opposed notches therein will engage a pair of diametrically opposed semi-circular lugs formed on a ring surrounding the opening in the inner end of the knob and dial assembly, all as was described in said co-pending Stahl et al. application. Also the notched plate 42, which has a central circular opening therein, has adjacent a marginal portion of said central opening an integral finger 46 (see FIG. 3) at right angles to the plane of the plate 42 and which is adapted to register with a slot therefor in the hub portion 47' of a circular disc driver plate 47, the latter being in fact a clutch plate and being formed with a series of arcuately spaced apart and staggered openings 35 therein.

It will thus be seen that manual rotation of the dial knob 33 is effective, through the plate 42 carried fast thereby in a predetermined position, to turn the circular disc driver plate 47, the latter being positively engaged by the finger 46 on the notched plate 42. Similarly to the arrangement disclosed in the Foote and Buller co-pending application Serial No. 13,509 filed March 8, 1960, there is incorporated Within the dialing knob 33 a pin tumbler cylinder and cylinder retaining plate, in addition to a plug extension and cam in the lock case 30. The pin tumbler cylinder is designated generally by the numeral 48. The plug 49 of said assembly, which is rotatable within the cylinder 48, is extended at its for- Ward end into a recess 50 therefor in the front Wall of the dial knob, the front wall of the dial knob having an opening 51 therein which registers with the front end of the plug and provides access for the insertion of a master key 52 into the key-way 53 of the plug 49. At the base of the cylinder there is a cylinder retaining plate 54 which will prevent rotation of the entire cylinder and which is formed with a pair of forwardly directed spaced apart arms 35 which as shown in said co-pending Foote et al. application, straddle a cylinder shell flange 56 to thereby prevent rotation of the cylinder when the dial knob is turned. The cylinder retaining plate 54 is connected to the cylindrical portion of: a tumbler disc shaft or post 58. The tumbler disc post 58 is secured fast at its rear end to a back retaining plate 59 which is fixedly mounted within the lock case 30.

For the sake of brevity, it might here be stated that the permutation mechanism housed within the lock casing 30 for controlling the lock bolt 31 has been described in detail in the Stahl et al. co-pending application for permutation lock, Serial No. 10,760, filed February 24, 1960. Insofar as the instant invention is concerned, it will be sufficient to state that the permuation mechanism with which the present improvements are associated includes a reciprocatable lever retaining or mounting bar 61, a Z-shaped lever dog 62 pivotally mounted on the lever retaining bar 61 and engageable with notches 49 (see FIG. 8) in the tumbler disc 63, the latter being coaxially revolvably mounted on the shouldered post 58, and a yieldingly mounted reciprocatable locking slide 64. Through the permutation mechanism mentioned, when the knob 33 is turned to dial the correct combination the lever dog 62, in having its nose enter the aligned notches in the tumbler disc 63, retracts the locking slide 64 from its holding engagement with the lever retaining bar 55 and permits the locker door latching bar 22 to be reciprocated upwardly through manual operation of the handle 26, which movement also shifts the lock bolt 31 upwardly in the latching bar slot 32. The locker door may thus be opened and the upward movement of the lock bolt 31, which moves upwardly with the lever re;

taining bar 61 and lever dog 62, upsets the tumbler discs and also provides an arrangement whereby the device is self locking when the locker door is closed and the latching bar is lowered to engage with the latch dog 24.

The Foote et al. co-pending application, Serial No. 13,509, filed March 8, 1960, provides means whereby the lock may be opened through control of the locking bolt 31 by mechanism operated by the master key 52 and which by-passes the permutation mechanism. It will appear that when the key 52 is turned in the proper direction within the plug 49, and when the parts are in the condition of FIG. 3, the semi-cylindrical end portion 65 of the plug, being in engagement with a similar mating semi-cylindrical end portion 66 of a plug extension 67, which freely rotatably extends through the post 58, will impart turning movement to the plug extension 67. The latter, outwardly of the rear retaining plate 59 carries a cam 68 which is shown in detail in FIGS. 14 and 15 and which has a central protrusion 69 forming an exteriorly accessible push button as it extends through an opening therefor in the back wall of the lock casing 30. The push button portion 69 of the cam 68 is secured fast to the knurled extremity of the plug extension 67 which it engages.

The cam- 68 is modified over the cam disclosed in the Foote et al. co-pending application and performs functions additional thereto but insofar as the key control feature is concerned, it may be stated that when the cam 68 is turned from its normal position of FIG. 3 by the turning of a proper master key 52 in the cylinder plug, it will cause the high part of the cam 68 to contact the shouldered end 64' of the locking slide 64 to force said locking slide to the left, relative to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, against the tension of the spring 69'. This operation consequently retracts the locking slide from its engagement with the lever mounting bar 61 and permits the lock bolt 31, lever dog 62 and lever mounting bar 61 to be released and moved upwardly as a unit beyond the retracted end of the locking slide 64 and against the tension of a spring 70. By virtue of the release of the locking slide '64 from the assembly which includes the member-61, and the consequent release of the lock bolt 31 and latching bar 22, the open condition of the lock will be effected without dialing. By thus releasing the lock bolt 31 the locker handle and latching bar 22 may be manually raised whereby an ofiicial or custodian may gain entry into any locker in the series by the use of the master key without the necessity of dialing an individual locker.

The present invention, while incorporating the permutation lock features of said Stahl et al. co-pending application and the master key control of said Foote et a1. copending application, includes therewith mechanism for readily changing the combination of the lock at will through a simple manual pressure imparted to the push button 69 by a custodian when the locker door 30 is opened to give access to the rear of the lock case 30.

It will be observed from FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 that the rear retaining plate 59 has fast on its back surface a lug or stop 71 which, when the lock is in its normal locked condition contacts the high side of the cam 68 to prevent it from moving axially inwardly. Hence, should there be any pressure against the push button 69, the cam 58 in its normal position cannot be moved inwardly in a direction which will eifect a combination change as will hereinafter appear. When it is desired to change the combination of the lock from the originally assigned combination, or the last combination in use, the proper control or master key 52 is inserted into the key-way of the cylinder plug '51 and turned a quarter of a revolution in the proper direction. This action, through the engaged portions 65 and 66 of the plug and plug extension, will serve to turn the cam 68 carried fast by the plug extension 67 and the turning movement of the cam is sufficient to clear the elongated or high portion of the cam from the lug 61. The operation of the master key, of course, serves to release the lock bolt 31 as previously described, and when the locker handle. 26 and latching bar 22 are raised the locker door may be swung to its open position. This will render accessible to the operator the button or protrusion 69 at the back of the lock case and the operator need merely press inwardly on the button 69 and the cam 68 is then forced inwardly as is the plug extension 67, until the position of FIG. 5 attains. The numeral 72 designates certain disc plate pins which are axially slidably movably mounted through registering openings therefor in the tumbler disc 63 and in the back retaining plate 59 and other elements. There also may be interposed between members on the post 58, disc Washers or spacers 73 (see FIGS. 6 and 17), each of which has formed on its inner periphery diametrically opposed serrations 74 to receive said pins 72 and guide and support them when the push button 69 is pressed. The forward ends of the disc pins 72 abut adjacent surface portions of the circular disc driver plate 47 which can be moved from its normal position of FIG. 3 to the advanced position toward the left relative to FIG. 5, again-st the force of a coiled spring 75. This movement of the circular disc plate 47 disengages an aperture 35 thereof from the lug 76 on the adjacent face of the adjacent tumbler disc 63 to eliminate any driving connection as between the circular disc plate 47 and the tumbler discs. As is clearly shown in FIG. 5, under the condition stated the driver or clutch disc plate 47 has one of its apertures 35 disengaged from the protruding lug on the adjacent tumbler disc and the tumbler discs are disengaged one from another. The relationship between the disc driver plate 47, the next adjacent tumbler disc 63 and the pins 72 is clearly shown in FIG. 6. After the condition of FIG. 5 is attained through the pressing of the push button 69 the combination may be changed in a simple manner. This is accomplished by turning the dialing knob 33 in a proper direction while the push button 69 is pressed inwardly. The turning of the knob 33 causes the clutch disc plate 47 to similarly turn and this will present one of theother apertures 35 in said plate 47 into near registration with the tumbler disc lug 76. Inward pressure on the button 69 is then released and a slight partial turn imparted to the dial knob 33 which turns with it the disc plate 47, will bring the desired aperture 35 in said disc plate into accurate registration with the tumbler disc 76 and the expansive force of the spring 75 will force the disc 47 toward the right, relative to FIG. 5 to engage the particular aperture 35 with the tumbler disc lug 76. This manipulation places the numbers on the dial portion of the dial and knob assembly in a different relationship relative to the notches in the tumbler discs 63, thereby requiring a new predetermined set of dialing numbers to operate the lock by permutation, which alternative combination, as well as others, in the possession of the custodian. bviously, various other combination changes may be effected depending upon which of the areuately spaced and staggered apertures 35 in the disc 37 is brought into registration with the lug 7 6 on the next adjacent tumbler disc.

During this procedure of changing the lock combination the control key 52 remains inserted in the cylinder plug 49. Then the locker door is closed and the handle 26 is lowered which serves to lower and secure the door latching bar 22. The key 52 may next be turned a POI-r tion of a revolution in a direction opposite to the direction in which it was turned previously which results in the cam 68, through the plug 49 and plug extension 67, being turned back to its original position of FIG. 3. A peripheral notch 77 in the high side of the cam 68 is disengaged from the protuberance 78 on the locking slide shoulder 64' and the other peripheral notch 77 in the low side of the cam snaps into the protuberance 7% because the tension of the spring 69 is then permitted to move the locking slide 64 toward the right, as shown in FIG. 7, whereupon the lock bolt 31, lever dog 62 and lever mounting bar 61 as a unit moves downwardly so that the parts will be in the normal locked position illustrated in FIG. 7. At this point the master key 52 may be removed from the cylinder plug or the control key may be retained in the cylinder plug and again turned as previously described to release the lock, which, after the locker handle is raised and the locker door is reopened, permits the combinatio'h changing steps to be repeated by pressing the push button 69 whereby the combination of the lock may be again changed to a desired set of staggered and varied prearranged combinations.

The peculiar form of the disc clutch plate 47 shown in FIG. 10 wherein there are five arcuately spaced apart apertures 35 is merely by way of illustration. However, this particular clutch disc plate would allow the combinations to be changed to five or more newly assigned combinations that may be staggered by adding or subtracting a variety of numbers, nonuniform, away from the orig inal combination. The numbers assigned for a given combination in the improved lock are scrambled which renders it very difficult for a tamperer to determine the code or plan in effect. This diliers from the arrangement in conventional combination changing locks wherein the newly assigned combinations are uniform multiples of numbers added to or subtracted from the original combination. The latter arrangement renders it easy to determine a new combination if the tamperer discovers the multiple used.

FIG. 6 illustrates the tumbler disc 63 next adjacent the clutch plate disc 47.. The pins 72 are shown as being guided by the internal peripheral serrations 74 in a washor 73 and as being accommodated by certain recesses 79 in the tumbler disc shaft or post 58. It, of course, should be understood that all of the tumbler discs 63, as is common in the art, carry lugs or protuberances which engage in depressions in face portions of adjacent discs whereby the discs become interconnected for turning purposes.

The grooves 79 in the tumbler disc shaft or post 58 serve to prevent rotation of the last tumbler disc for the first dialed number of the combination, from moving while the knob and dial assembly is turned in a reverse direction to set up the second number of the combination, and so on until the full combination is correctly dialed. These grooves 7? additionally hold the pins 72 in position within their grooves and support the washers or spacers 73 so that their teeth can guide the movements of the disc pins 72.

Insofar as the principles of the present invention are concerned, the direction of opening of the locker door, and the consequent positioning and direction of the lock applied thereto, are immaterial. In FIGS. 1 and 2, the locker door 20 is illustrated .as one which is hinged along its left hand margin and the lock is applied to the opposite margin of the door. However, FIG. 18 illustrates a locker or cabinet door which opens in a reverse direction and the lock applied thereto (see FIG. 19) has its bolt and mechanism reversed over that shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9. The structural features which characterize the present invention are the same whether the lock is in one position or in a reverse position.

Although the lock mechanism is a master key controlled permutation lock and is, therefore, susceptible of being opened through the dialing of the correct combination or through the use of a master key, it incorporates a simple push button mechanism which permits the lock combination to be changed without errors in an easy and rapid manner after the door to which the lock is applied has been opened with an inserted master key.

The improved key controlled, combination changing permutation lock, especially suited for lockers, cabinets and the like, is easy to assemble and install, is strong and durable, may be easily operated or handled by an unskilled person, andis well adapted for the purposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a lock having a lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, tumbler discs operatively connected with said lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a unitary dial and knob operatively connected with said tumbler discs, a clutch plate included in said connections for transmitting rotation from the knob to the tumbler discs according to a preselected combination but shiftable to disengage the connection, a tumbler disc adjacent the clutch plate being formed with an axially protruding lug and said clutch plate being formed with differently spaced apart apertures, any selected one of which receives the tumbler disc lug for selectively varying the position of clutching engagement between' the two, manually operated means for disengaging the clutch plate from said tumbler disc to permit rotation of the clutch disc through the dialing knob to alter the position of connection of the clutch plate with said tumbler disc lug for combination changing purposes, and other mechanism controlled by an inserted key for controlling operation of said clutch plate disengaging means.

2. In a master key controlled permutation lock having a movable lock bolt with mechanism for controlling the movement of said lock bolt, interconnected tumbler discs operatively connected with said lock bolt movement con trolling mechanism, key controlled means also operatively connected with said lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a dialing knob having a portion of the key controlled means extended thereinto coaxially, a clutch plate shiftably interposed between said dialing knob and the tumbler discs for transmitting rotation from the former to the latter according to a preselected combination, one of the tumbler discs and said clutch plate being formed with complementary lug and aperture means for selectively varying the position of clutching engagement between the two for combination changing purposes, manually operated means remote from and independent of the key controlled means for releasing the engagement between said tumbler disc and clutch plate and effecting an angularly varied re-engagement thereof following turning of the clutch plate by the dialing knob for changing the permutation mechanism combination of the lock, and means operated by a key inserted into said key controlled means and moved therein for controlling operation of said clutch plate releasing means.

3. In a master key controlled, combination changing permutation lock, interconnected, co-axial tumbler discs,

a turnable dialing knob assembly, a key-receiving cylinder plug turnably mounted in the knob assembly and coaxial therewith, an axially shiftable, turnable clutch plate interposed between said dialing knob assembly and the tumbler discs for transmitting rotation from the former to the latter according to a preselected combination, one of the tumbler discs and said clutch plate being formed with complementary means for selectively varying the turned position of clutching engagement between the two for combination changing purposes, manually operated, integral means remote from the cylinder plug for axially shifting the clutch plate away from said tumbler disc to disengage the same whereby an angularly varied re-engagement thereof may be effected following a turning of the clutch plate through the dialing knob, and a member connected to and moved by said cylinder plug for controlling axial movement of said clutch plate shifting means when said plug is turned by a proper key applied thereto.

4. In a combination changing lock having a movable lock bolt with mechanism for controlling the movement of said lock bolt, inter-connected, turnable tumbler discs operatively connected with said lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, key controlled means also operatively connected with said lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a dialing knob, a clutch plate yieldingly axially shiftably interposed between said dialing knob and the tumbler discs for transmitting rotation from the former to the latter according to a preselected combination when in engagement, one of the tumbler discs and said clutch plate being formed with complementary means for selectively varying the position of circularly advanced clutching engagement between the two for combination changing purposes, push button operated means extending to the clutch plate shifting it axially out of engagement with said tumbler disc whereby an angularly varied re-engagement of the clutch plate and tumbler disc may be effected following turning of the clutch plate by the dialing knob, and a member controlled by turning movements of the key controlled means movable into and out of the path of movement of said push button controlled clutch shifting means.

5. A permutation lock comprising, a support, a keyreceiving turnable cylinder plug, a lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a shaft co-axial with said plug, tumbler discs on said shaft and operatively connected with said lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a dialing knob assembly, a clutch plate co-axial with said tumbler discs and connected with said knob assembly to turn therewith, means formed on one of the tumbler discs and said clutch plate for selectively varying the turned position of clutching engagement between the two, manually operated means extending to the clutch plate for shifting it axially to disengage the clutch plate from said tumbler disc to permit rotation of the clutch disc through the dialing knob assembly, a cylinder plug extension, and a member carried by said plug extension and turnable therewith to control operation of said clutch plate shifting means.

6. In a lock, permutation mechanism including interconnected turnable tumbler discs, a manually turnable dialing knob, key operated mechanism mounted in said dialing knob, a clutch plate yieldingly axially shiftably interposed between said dialing knob and the tumbler discs for transmitting rotation from the former to the latter according to a preselected combination when in engagement, one of the tumbler discs and said clutch plate being formed with complementary means for selectively varying the position of circularly advanced clutching engagement between the two for combination changing purposes, push button operated means extending to the clutch plate for shifting it axially out of engagement with said tumbler disc whereby an angularly varied re-engagement of the clutch plate and tumbler disc may be efiected following turning of the clutch plate by the dialing knob, and a cam connected with said key operated mechanism to be moved thereby into and out of the path of movement of said push button operated clutch shifting means.

7. In a permutation lock assembly including a door, a lock case mounted on the inner face of the door, a dialing knob assembly mounted on the outer face of the door, a key-receiving turnable cylinder plug mounted in said dialing knob, a lock bolt movement controlling mecha nism within the lock case, a shaft within the case co-axial with said plug and connected thereto, tumbler discs on said shaft and operatively connected with said lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a turnable and axially shiftable clutch plate co-axial with said tumbler discs within the lock case, means formed on, one of the tumbler discs and said clutch plate for selectively varying the turned position of clutching engagement between the two, manually operated means projecting through a wall of the lock case and extending to the clutch plate for shifting it axially to disengage the clutch plate from said tumbler disc to permit rotation of the clutch disc, the clutch plate being re-engageable with the tumbler disc in a newly turned position, and a member carried by said shaft and turnable therewith to control operation of said clutch plate shifting means.

8. In a master key controlled, combination changing permutation lock having a lock bolt controlled by dialing knob operated permutation mechanism including rotatable tumbler discs and independently controlled by a master key operated turnable cylinder plug with the latter connected to and carrying a cam, the improvements which comprise: an axially shiftable, turnable clutch coaxial with said tumbler discs and selectively engageable therewith; means mounting the cam for movement axially of the tumbler discs and for turning movement with the cylinder plug, said cam being formed with a push button protrusion; axially movable thrust members interposed between the cam and the clutch for moving the clutch out of engagement with a tumbler disc when the push button protrusion is pressed; and a stop member contacting the cam in one turned position of the latter to prevent axial movement of the cam except when it is turned away from said position by key operation of the cylinder plug.

9. In a door and permutation lock assemblage, a lock case secured to an inner face of the door and having a slot therein and having a rear wall with an opening therein, a lock bolt projecting through said case slot, permutation mechanism within said lock case, a latching bar reciprocatably carried by the door and operatively engaged by said lock bolt, a dialing knob assembly turnably mounted on the front face of the door and having a connection extending through the door and into the lock case, and engaging the permutation mechanism, the outer end of the dialing knob assembly having an opening therein, a cylinder plug operatively mounted in the dialing knob assembly and having a key-receiving slot registering with said opening in the outer end of the dialing knob, said cylinder plug having an extension projecting into the lock case, and a push button operatively associated with the permutation mechanism and projecting through the rear Wall opening in the lock case and manually accessible for combination changing purposes only when the door is open.

10. In a master key controlled, combination changing permutation lock having a lock bolt controlled by dialing knob operated permutation mechanism including rotatable tumbler discs and independently controlled by a master key operated turnable cylinder plug with the latter connected to and carrying a cam, the improvements which comprise: an axially shiftable, turnable clutch coaxial with said tumbler discs and selectively engageable with an adjacent tumbler disc; yielding means normally holding said clutch in its tumbler disc engaging position; means mounting the cam for movement axially of the tumbler discs and for turning movement with the cylinder plug, said cam being formed with a push button protrusion; axially movable thrust members interposed be tween the cam and the clutch for moving the clutch out 1 1 of engagement with a tumbler disc against the force of said yielding means when the push button protrusion is manually pressed; and a stop member contacting the cam in one turned position of the latter to prevent axial movement of the cam except when it is turned away from said position by key operation of the cylinder plug.

11. In a door and permutation lock assemblage, a lock case secured to an inner face of the door-and having a slot therein and having a rear wall with an opening therein, a lock bolt projecting through said case slot, permutation mechanism Within said lock case, a latching bar reciprocatably carried by the door and operatively engaged by said lock bolt, a dialing knob assembly turnably mounted on the front face of the door and having a connection extending through the door and into the lock case to the permutation mechanism, the outer end of the dialing knob assembly having an opening therein, a cylinder plug turnably mounted in the dialing knob assembly and having a key-receiving slot registering with said opening in the outer end of the dialing knob, said cylinder plug having an extension projecting into the lock case and adapted to be turned when the plug is turned by a key, a push button operatively associated with the permutation mechanism and projecting through the rear wall open ing in the lock case and manually accessible for combination changing purposes only when the door is open, and means carried by said plug extension and turnable therewith to block operation of said push button when in a certain position.

12. A combination lock comprising, a casing, lock bolt controlling mechanism therewithin, permutation mechanism within the casing responsive to a pre-selected combination for operating the lock bolt controlling mechanism, a turnable dialing knob assembly extending exteriorly of one side of the casing for operating said permutation mechanism, a key-operated plug operatively carried by said dialing knob assembly in coaxial relation and extending to the lock bolt controlling mechanism, combination changing mechanism within the casing and operatively associated with the permutation mechanism, said combination changing mechanism having a normal inoperative position and a shifted combination altering position, permanently attached, manually operated means remote from said dialing knob for shifting said mechanism to its combination altering position, and means normally blocking movement of said mechanism shifting means but releasable upon key operation of said plug.

13. A master key controlled, combination changing permutation lock comprising, a casing having front and rear Walls, lock bolt controlling mechanism within the casing, permutation mechanism within the casing responsive to a pre-selected combination for operating the lock bolt controlling mechanism, a unitary knob and dial turnably mounted exteriorly of the front wall of the casing and connected with the permutation mechanism for operating the latter, a key-operated plug operatively carried by said unitary dial and knob in coaxial relation thereto and extending to the lock bolt controlling mechanism for operating the latter independently of the permutation mechanism, combination changing mechanism within the casing and associated with the permutation mechanism and responsive in part to key operation of said plug, ad a manually movable member extending exteriorly of the rear wall of the casing for operating, jointly with said key operated plug, the combination changing mechanism, operation of said plug both for lock bolt controlling mechanism operation and for combination changing mechanism operation being accomplished by the same key.

14. A permutation lock comprising, a support, a keyreceiving turnable cylinder plug, a lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a shaft, tumbler discs on said shaft and operatively connected with said lock bolt movement controlling mechanism, a dialing knob assembly, a clutch plate connected with said knob assembly to turn therewith, means formed on one of the tumbler discs and said clutch plate for effecting a selectively varied turned position of clutching engagement between the two, manuaily operated means extending to the clutch plate for shifting it to disengage the clutch plate from said tumbler disc to permit rotation of the clutch disc through the dialing knob assembly, a cylinder plug extension, and a member carried by said plug extension and turnable therewith to control operation of said clutch plate shifting means.

15. A master key controlled, combination changing permutation lock comprising, a casing having front and rear walls, lock bolt controlling mechanism within the casing, permutation mechanism within the casing responsive to a preselected combination for operating the lock bolt controlling mechanism, knob and dial means turnably mounted exteriorly of the front wall of the casing and connected with the permutation mechanism for operating the latter, a key-operated plug operatively carried by said dial and knob means and extending to the lock bolt controlling mechanism for operating the latter independ en-tly of the permutation mechanism, combination changing mechanism within the casing and associated with the permutation mechanism and responsive in part to key operation of said plug, and a manually movable member extending exteriorly of the rear wall of the casing for operating, jointly with said key operated plug, the combination changing mechanism, operation of said plug both for lock bolt controlling mechanism operation and for combination changing mechanism operation being accomplished by the same key.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,081,123 Stone May 18, 1937 2,167,205 Heyer July 25, 1939 2,424,396 Heyer July 22, 1947 

